Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to be vying for an unexpected national team spot, which would mark his return to coaching.
Manchester United fired Solskjaer from his position as manager in November 2021 due to the team’s dismal start to the 2021-22 season. His work at Old Trafford has received praise, but he has been out of work for some time now.
Solskjaer had a great record against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City while in charge of United. Furthermore, he earned great respect for his tactical adjustments and human management of him in crucial matches.
While he was in charge, the Red Devils did something no manager since Sir Alex Ferguson had achieved: finish in the top four seasons in a row. Unfortunately, he did not win any trophies during his tenure.
Since then, he has been linked with several jobs, including the position at Besiktas, which was hotly rumored all summer. However, the Turkish giants decided on Fernando Santos, former Portugal coach.
Is Scandinavia asking to return?
Perhaps the Norwegian can triumphantly return to management at this very moment. The 50-year-old has reportedly spoken about the possibility of becoming the coach of the Swedish national team.
The Swedish Football Federation interviewed the Norwegian in December and is seriously considering him among many candidates. Once they failed to qualify for Euro 2024 in November, Janne Andersson announced his resignation.
The team did not advance to the next round as they placed third in their group. Sweden lost a place at Euro 2024 to Belgium and Austria, despite having a strong team. Their starting lineup includes stars such as Dejan Kulusevski, Alexander Isak, Anthony Elanga, Victor Lindelof and Viktor Gyokeres.
According to Swedish news site Fotbollskanalen, the position on the national team is attractive to the former striker. However, the association is taking its time to make the final decision. The Blue and Yellow have the luxury of time to carefully evaluate potential candidates to fill the head coaching position on a permanent basis.
Nordic experience could prove vital
Tony Gustavsson and Olof Mellberg, former Sweden stars, were early favorites for the role. The SvFF had planned a collaboration between the two, but talks with Mellberg stalled.
The report adds that the board is considering other possibilities and Solskjaer shows great interest in the role. Meanwhile, the possible appointment of Gustavsson is also not ruled out.
Despite his coaching experience in Nordic football with Norwegian side Molde, Solskjaer has never held a managerial position in Sweden. During his three years as manager, he guided them to the league championship, which allowed him to work at Manchester United.
The Red Devils’ two second-place finishes came under the Norwegian coach’s tutelage. However, they were unable to break their trophy drought as they lost in several finals and semi-finals.
Although he was at odds with some of the locker room’s most illustrious figures, he was also the target of persistent criticism for his qualifications. For both Solskjaer’s managerial career and the future of Swedish football, the upcoming appointment is monumental.
Photo credits: IMAGO/PA Images: IMAGO/Buzzi
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